Johnny Kiyawasew passed away at the age of 11 in a small town hospital in 1943, far from his family in Sturgeon Lake Cree Nation, located in northern Alberta. After being sent to St. Francis Xavier Residential School in Calais, Alta., Johnny never returned home, and it took years for his siblings to uncover the truth about his fate.
Robert Kiyawasew, Johnny’s younger brother, expressed his dismay at the lack of communication regarding Johnny’s passing, stating that their father was never informed about it. With the help of a private investigator, Johnny’s older sister, Roseann, located his gravesite in 2013, shedding light on his final resting place in a hospital in High Prairie, where he succumbed to pulmonary tuberculosis.
Efforts are now underway by Sturgeon Lake Cree Nation and the University of Alberta to conduct thorough research into the experiences of children like Johnny, who attended residential schools but never made it back home. Chief Sheldon Sunshine highlighted the tragic reality that many children at St. Francis Xavier died from tuberculosis and malnutrition, emphasizing the human impact of the historical data.
Robert Kiyawasew expressed gratitude that his sister was able to find Johnny’s grave before her passing, allowing him to visit the site regularly. As a survivor of a day school himself, he recounted the injustices faced by Indigenous children in residential schools and stressed the importance of preserving their cultural heritage.
The challenges of obtaining accurate records from residential schools were discussed by Raymond Frogner, who noted the disorganization and inconsistency of existing documentation. He highlighted the difficulties in piecing together information due to the fragmented nature of records kept by various organizations involved in managing the schools.
Despite obstacles in accessing church records, Sunshine affirmed the commitment of Sturgeon Lake researchers to uncovering the stories of children who never returned from St. Francis Xavier. The ongoing efforts aim to provide closure for families and address intergenerational trauma resulting from the legacy of residential schools.